LAEVAL AND POST-LARVAL TELEOSTEANS. 349 



SCOMBRIDiE. 

 Scomber scomber L. 

 Post-larval mackerel were exceedingly few. One hundred and eighteen 

 specimens from 4 to 13 mm. in length were taken during the period of in- 

 vestigation. These occurred during June and July, so that spawning in 

 the neighbourhood must have begun in May in each year. The frequency 

 in numbers is seen to decrease inshore, and to increase from the twenty- 

 fathom line outwards. Previous captures of the same stages (and these are 

 by no means numerous) have been recorded chiefly at considerable distances 

 from land. It is thus highly probable, from the scarcity of individuals 

 in the samples, that the early stages occur in greater numbers much 

 farther out than the area investigated. Subsequent stages have been 

 observed at Plymouth at lengths of about 100 mm. One specimen of 

 200 mm. was caught in a commercial beam-trawl west of the Eddystone 

 rocks on 11th February, 1914. Scales were developed, which were 

 obviously in their first year's growth, but on considering the length of 

 the fish, the age must be about 1 year 9 months, if, according to Ehren- 

 baum, scales begin to develop during the second year. 



